SEND

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

The Special Educational Needs and Learning Support Department of Bishop Thomas Grant School is at the heart of the school community and is an essential ingredient of our Catholic ethos.

The care of young people and their successful progress through the school is our primary concern.  To achieve this aim, we have a team of dedicated staff who support within classes as well as in small groups and with one-to-one tuition.

We work together with the parents and carers of students with SEN and this can often be the most important factor in ensuring a student’s success.  To this end we warmly welcome your advice and views when we are planning support.

If you wish to discuss your child, their progress and any additional support they might need, please contact Ms J Wellington Head of Special Educational Needs by email jwellington@btg-secondary.lambeth.sch.uk, or by telephone on  0208 835 9209. 

Please click here for a copy of our SEND Information Report 2020-21. 

Support for SEND students and their families

News

• Thursday 30th April 2020 letter to parents from Helen Whateley MP, the Minister of State for Care To all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), their parents/carers and families, and others who support them
• The government has published new guidance on acceptable levels of activity including for those with medical needs or conditions:       https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-    and-cant-do/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do

• The council for Disabled Children has created a one stop webpage for covid-19 advice: https://councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk/news-opinion/news/covid-19-support-and-guidance

• Lambeth have updated their local offer to include guidance for parents of EHCP pupils: https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/send-local-offer/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-parents-and-carers-of-children-with-a-special

Ideas

• For a one stop comprehensive list of free learning resources,  for GCSE, A-Level, SATS and 11+ take a look at: http://www.eparenting.co.uk/education/50_free_revision_resources
• The government has compiled a list of games and apps which are suitable for SEND learners: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-online-education-resources/coronavirus-covid-19-list-of-online-education-resources-for-home-education#special-educational-needs-and-disabilities-send
• Dr Max Davie, Community Paediatrician at the Mary Sheridan Centre, has produced an extensive range of ideas of activities for indoors: https://indoorexplorers.com/
• And for outdoor action, Fulham FC Foundation has launched their DisAbility Stay Home Stay Fulham Fit Daily Drills: https://www.youtube.com/
• ASDAN is an organisation that have a selection of free resources to support home learning and the development of life skills.  Designed to support students who perform at lower levels academically and for students with SEND, their challenges provide opportunities to develop citizenship, employability and a sense of community: https://www.asdan.org.uk/resources/free-resources
• Home learning can prove challenging for SEND students for all sorts of reasons. Camouflaged Learning could be a solution to keeping students learning and giving them a structure and a sense of accomplishment that keeps them feeling positive. The trick is to set a task or project that involves them doing Maths, English, Geography, History... any subject without them realising it. The Scout Association has some ideas you may be able to use or adapt to keep them  learning at home: https://www.scouts.org.uk/the-great-indoors/ 

Advice

• The Evelina is running speech and language therapy drop-in sessions for all parents, - your child does not need to be known to the service  click here
• There are lots of functions of Microsoft Teams that make learning more accessible for students. Click here for a step by step guide on how to use them
• Lambeth educational psychologists have made a few short films containing advice for parents on topics such as emotion coaching and restorative justice, including one in Spanish: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeuuUeVWi6iZwBSmfDuakJw
• CAMHS have published some excellent advice and resources on their website: https://www.camhs-resources.co.uk/coronavirus 
• Dr Davie has also produced a useful advice video for parents of students with ADHD:  https://www.youtube.com/

Lambeth SEND organisations have set up facebook pathways to enable parents to get the advice they need:

• Lambeth ADHD Parent Support  Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1179441825495785/
• Lambeth Autism Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/LambethAutismGroup/
• SEN Talk Parent Support Group: https://www.facebook.com/SENTalk.org/
• LEAP (Lambeth Early Action Partnership): https://www.facebook.com/LEAPLambeth/
• Contact: https://www.facebook.com/contactfamilies/
• SOS SEN:  https://www.facebook.com/SOSSpecialEducationalNeeds/
• Special Needs Jungle: https://www.facebook.com/SpecialNeedsJungle/
• The SEND Parents Handbook: https://www.facebook.com/thespecialparentshandbook/
• Sensory Stuck at Home: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sensorystuckathome

Parents can contact the following agencies for support with any SEND issues during this time:

• Family Action- Email: lambethPES@family-action.org.uk                                                                          Tel: 07976 201031 
• Lambeth Information, Advice and Support Service (LIASS) - Email: Lambeth@lambeth.gov.uk Tel: 020 7926 1831 or 020 7926 9805